Getting Grounded: new farming conference to launch in Tasmania

WITH a twist on the traditional conference, agriculture event “Grounded” will debut this year at Fat Pig Farm in the Huon Valley. 

Taking place over two days, December 4–5, the event aims to redefine the concept of a sit-down conference, featuring entertainment, food, live music, and over 40 speakers and demonstrators who will explore a wide range of on-farm topics.

Owner of Fat Pig Farm and founder of Grounded Matthew Evans said the event was born out of a trip he took to the UK where he attended a two-day regenerative farming festival which attracted a crowd of over 6,000. 

Inspired by the festival, he sought to create something similar in Tasmania. 

After discussing his vision with locals, the idea quickly gained traction and he began working to bring it to life.

Mr Evans, a chef turned farmer and food activist, runs Fat Pig Farm with his partner Sadie, where they raise Wessex Saddleback pigs. 

They previously operated an on-farm restaurant but are now focusing on growing produce and using regenerative farming practices, and now, creating a festival.

Mr Evans said that Grounded aims to foster an interactive learning environment across the two days.

Each day will kick off at 7:30am, giving attendees time for food and coffee before demonstrations/activities/talks begin at 8:30am. 

Mr Evans said there will be talks almost every hour at three separate marquees across the 70-acre mixed farm, giving attendees the flexibility to tailor their experience through various concurrent sessions, allowing them to pick and choose what resonates with their learning goals.

“I think there’s a significant demand for knowledge on better farming practices,” he said.

“It could be farming better for you, for the planet, or for your community— it’s not saying you don’t farm well now, but we think that striving for something a bit fairer, a bit lower input, perhaps a bit more profitable, or with a more beautiful vista or more birds, are all things we may want in our lives.”

The two-day event will feature around 40 speakers, including eight international experts, covering a wide range of topics—from livestock selection and pasture mixes to carbon-neutral vineyards and innovative financing strategies for farmers.

The event will also have demonstrators covering hemp, biochar, soil health, mental health, nutrient density, beneficial insects, climate resilience and more.

“Personally, I wouldn’t want to sit down all day, so we’ve interspersed lots of opportunities to do something else, like exploring ag tech, soil equipment, or learning to make biochar.”

Throughout the day, 'walkshops' led by experts will guide participants through the farm, showcasing cover crops, the no-dig market garden, rotational grazing practices and the latest in soil technology. 

The first day will end with Mr Evans' book launch followed by a wine and cheese hour, socialising at The Lazy Springtail bar, and music from local artist Claire Ann Tailor. 

Attendees can bring their own food or purchase from the many local food offerings available.

“The event will have good food stalls at a decent price, a bar serving regeneratively produced beers, organic ciders, ethically produced wines and more.”

“We plan to keep the bar open and music flowing on the first day to create a relaxed atmosphere.”

Mr Evans is hoping to see between two and three hundred people attend the event.

“In some ways it is still an intimate event because there will be multiple venues so there won’t be that many people all in one crowd and people can come and go as they see fit but there will be food on site so people could have breakfast lunch and dinner here if they wanted.”

“There are one-day and two-day tickets available, and all our headline speakers will present each day, ensuring no one misses out on hearing a speaker, although their topics will vary,” Mr Evans said.

Speakers will include Anita Fleming, an emerging agricultural scientist in New Zealand whose field of expertise has focused on ruminant nutrition, agricultural system design, and identification of connections between pastures, livestock, and consumers.

Looking ahead, Mr Evans hopes to evolve “Grounded” into an event that can travel across the country and be hosted in other states.

“We feel that because Australia is such a big place that it may be something that needs to travel and to get to a bigger audience.”

“I think there’s a pent-up demand for knowledge and it’s just about how that’s delivered.”

“We’ve already received requests to host it next year on the mainland, so there's a potential for that as a model," Mr Evans said.

“Our goal is to make this accessible; it’s not about creating an income stream for us. It’s about crafting an experience we’d like to attend ourselves.” 

“This is for a group of people who are really interested in getting more out of their farm, whether it’s more time for themselves, better mental health, getting more carbon in their soil, for higher yield or for finding more joy from their farm whatever that is, ‘farming better’ is our tag.”